Roberto Mancini hopes Man City ‘challenging enough’ for Yaya Toure

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has denied rumours that star midfielder Yaya Toure could be set to leave the Premier League champions.

Yaya Toure (right) was a key player in Man City’s title success last season (Picture: Reuters)

The Ivorian has been linked with a move to rivals Chelsea, with Toure’s agent Dimitri Seluk admitting the 29-year-old was looking for ‘a new challenge’ and also inferred a return to Spanish giants Barcelona wouldn’t be out of the question.

But Mancini remains confident Toure will receive enough of a challenge by remaining in the north-west, with the club yet to dominate on the European stage.

‘I am happy that Yaya wants a new challenge because I also want a new challenge. I want to win the next game, the next game in the Champions League, everything,’ said the Italian.

‘Every day we have a new challenge here because in two-and-a-half years, we won the FA Cup, the Premier League and the Charity Shield.

‘Now we need to win another cup and another Premier League. We need to work more for this challenge.

‘I think that Yaya thinks that, like me and like the other players.’

Mancini was also hopeful the Ivorian international would choose to remain with his club during the African Cup of Nations which begins in January.

Toure took part in last year’s tournament in which the Ivory Coast reached the final, but also saw City’s title bid disrupted.

‘I hope Yaya stays here. I haven’t yet spoken with Yaya about this. Probably we will speak in the next week,’ Mancini added.